Government Defends Brigitte Macron Amidst 'Sales Connes' Controversy

Brigitte Macron faced a public backlash after referring to feminist activists as 'sales connes' (dirty bitches) following their interruption of comedian Ary Abittan's show at the Folies Bergère in Paris. The disruption was orchestrated by four feminists from the #NousToutes collective, who protested by wearing masks portraying Abittan with the word "rapist," referencing accusations against him. Abittan had been accused of rape in 2021, but after a three-year investigation, he was cleared of all charges with a non-lieu ruling upheld on appeal.

The incident was captured on video by Bestimage, a photographic agency close to Macron, which later leaked the footage to the media, an error attributed to the agency itself. Following the ensuing controversy, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon defended Brigitte Macron, emphasizing that her remarks expressed spontaneous frustration in a private context and urging the public to leave the First Lady alone. Bregeon criticized the feminists’ methods, highlighting that they undermined judicial decisions and noted Macron's supportive presence backstage at Abittan's performance after the protest.

Brigitte Macron's entourage clarified that her comment aimed to denounce the activists' radical tactics, not to personally attack them. This defense underscores the tension between feminist activism and public figures' reactions in the ongoing debate over protest methods and judicial outcomes in France.